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My Hive Stand

I have embarked on my first beeK journey, and started out by throwing this stand together with some leftover wood from a deck project.

Please give some feedback. I know it it prob overkill, but I have tractors to help move stuff around, and the best thing, it was leftover material!!

The stand is on elevated clay bed where drainage from the property runs away from this location. I have set the stand up where the hives will face east, and will get some late afternoon shade. This area is a bit lower than my highpoint on the land and has a natural wind break that typically comes from the North.

The stand is approx 6x18x72 and rests 16" off the ground. I anticipate coons and skunks as I am in the country. I plan on keeping 2 hives with some extra room.

Re: My Hive Stand

Looks solid. I'm not sure if ants are a problem in you area, or how you would deal with them. I like the way its not so tall that I would need a step ladder after a couple of supers were on top. I'm not clear why there appears to be an extra strip of lumber across the back rail. Also, I like the location.

Re: My Hive Stand

You have alot of surface area to cover in the event of ANTS, I would replace the concrete with 4 treated 4x4 post in the corners and drop them into empty paint buckets with oil in them. I saw that on here..

Re: My Hive Stand

I like it. I have used cups with oil in them to discourage ants. Looks great on paper. Somehow you must keep the rain out. Even driving rain that comes in (Forrest Gump style) from the sides and seemingly from underneath. The oil floats in water and the next week you have dead bees floating in four cups of water and a nearby oilslick heading down hill or downstream.

Re: My Hive Stand

we have fireants from hell here in se ok. i found i loose less bees if i use a smaller diameter leg on my stands thus allowing a smaller mouth on the buckets the legs stand in. water works fine for a liquid just remember to keep them full.

Re: My Hive Stand

That's almost identical to the stands that I just built out of some left-over cedar decking. My 1st attempt was only 16" wide but I revised them to 18-1/2" so they would accommodate frames while working the hives. I am using cinder blocks but I really like the looks of those post foundations you are using. They look very stable. I am going to spread about 6" of fresh cedar mulch, recently shredded, over a good sized area around mine. I have heard that ants don't do well with cedar or cypress mulch. Anyway, I have access to it for free, and it will at least keep the vegetation at bay.

Re: My Hive Stand

Very nice, I would not have thought about those type of concrete blocks but I can see if you have the measurements right they would fit very well. I have stands built from treated lumber and sometimes the hives slid really easy on them when you are pulling the boxes apart. Suppose it it because the treated lumber is so smooth.

Try living life with the attitude it's not about what you want to do but what you should do!

Re: My Hive Stand

Hi Rob.bees, the stand looks great and seems very solid. I would in your situation take the concrete cones and give them a good coating of something like latex paint or paint for concrete to seal as many holes as possible. I would then look at some stuff called "Tanglefoot" which is used on fruit trees and painted on some special paper strips that would have to be wrapped around the cones. The only problem I see is the area on the inside of the stand. By the way, Tanglefoot also comes now in a spray can. Just some food for thought. Take care and have fun.

Re: My Hive Stand

Thx Max!!

@Alex, thanks for the tip I think I will look into it and probably try that route!! Been thinking of some can designs with oil and using 4x4 posts, even thought about making up something where I can hang a coffee can upside on posts, and load it with lithium grease to keep rain out, but still provide an upside down mote of sorts, but didnt know if that would actually work for ants.